EdCasey

This will be my wife and my first visit to Portugal we arrive lisbon Feb 7th for 2 weeks.
Want to see if we could retire in Portugal.
We like nice quiet beaches, mountain scenery, walking, historic sites, character villages etc.

Can anyone recommend places to visit we will have hire car and prepared to drive upto 200 miles from Lisbon..
Thanks your help.
Ed

EsuriJohn

Have a look at the East Algarve from Faro to Vila Royal Santo Antonio. Fabulous beaches hamlets to Cities less than 10 km island to big hills (don't think Portugal has real mountains). Lots of walks some organised. Have a couple of days base yourself in Tavira one day west one day east you will find exactly what you want.

gedscottish

There is a Portugal outside of teh Algarve you know, you should go visit it, it's very beautiful! 1Mount Pico Azores2,351 m2Piquinho, Azores2,351 m3Serra da Estrela - Torre, Guarda1,993 m4Alto do Talefe, Viseu1,982 m5Pico Ruivo de Santana Madeira1,862 m6Pico do Arieiro Madeira1,818 m7Serra do Gerês - Pico da Nevosa, Vila Real1,548 m8Serra do Marão, Vila Real1,416 m41.248 / -7.8879Serra de Montemuro, Viseu1,382 m40.974 / -7.98810Serra Amarela, Viana do Castelo1,362 m41.814 / -8.195

gedscottish

If you want beach and you want the mountain scenery, historic sites near by then I think the obvious choice for you would be the Silver Coast or inland of it, you will have so much on your door step with Lisbon just a short distance away. Try driving an hour up the silver coast from Lisbon then cutting over to check out Serra da estrela and surrounding area.

EdCasey

Thank you very much for your response - much appreciated...

EdCasey

This sounds ideal.
Thank you very much for your response. .Ed

EdCasey

Thanks your response we definetly want to explore Portugal not just Algarve..
We fly into lisbon as we reallywant to explore outside of Algarve..

EdCasey

Thank you for your response.
Where on Silver coast should we head to from Lisbon - where would be good place to think about buying house within 30 minutes drive of beach?

Jessel

I would suggest you head for Coimbra, a university city, once the capital of Portugal and surrounded by towns such as Miranda do Corvo, Penela, Lousa and Vila Nova de Poiares all within less than an hours drive to the sea and midway between the airports of Lisbon & Porto.

gedscottish

Personally I would suggest anywhere between Torres Vedras and Marinha Grande, a personal favourite of mine being Peniche(and the 20km or so south of it). Obidos worth a visit inland while you are there. Nazare is also very nice but gets mobbed in the summer, again worth heading up the coast through it and then on to Pedra do Ouro, from there you could head east to Tomar(historic city) then up to Serra da Estrela if you feel up to the drive and take in the mountain towns of the likes of,Seia, Gouveia over the top of the mountain then down into the valley where you will arive at Manteigas(worth a stay for a night at The Berne Hotel) and drive right to the top of the mountain! Next day, south east to Belmonte(there is an amazing fortified town near here too but can'y mind name just now, it will come to me) and head south down to Algarve to Lisbon and take in Sintra and the historic parts of Lisbon. Make sure you take in some the Alentejo coast on way back up but others on here will be able to advise better exactly which parts of the Algarve and Alentejo are must see areas.____________________________________________ _____________________ p.s Sorry for suggesting such a big drive, otherwise I suggest you book another 2 week stay later in year!

gedscottish

Portugal photo gallery on this site may be of interest of you:Portugal : British Expat Photo Gallery

macliam

Miles from the sea on the Spanish border, but don't miss Marvão, a fortified town 843 metres above sea level, on one of the highest points in the Serra de São Mamede, it was included in the book '1000 Places to see Before you Die'.
.....and/or Monsaraz, another fortified town now surrounded by the Barragem de Alqueva, one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe.

gedscottish

Looks fantastic, I'll be making sure I go there one of these times I head south again!

EdCasey

sounds ideal - thank you...Ed

gedscottish

I would if I could edit out my suggestion above of taking in Serra da Estrela and surrounding area, too out of way and not where you want to live, leave that one for when you love here! For sure though see coastal places I suggested.